Democrats, Republicans Go After the Mommy Vote

Mother's Day may not be for another two weeks, but everyone in Washington is trying win over moms these days. After all, the congressional midterm election is right around the corner. (OK, fine, more than a year from now, but that's pretty close to "right around the corner" Inside the Beltway.) And women proved pivotal to Democrats' success in the most recent election, in which President Barack Obama maintained the White House and Democrats made gains in both the U.S. House of Representatives (which remains under GOP control) and the Senate (which Democrats hold).

Now the GOP has targeted a number of "mommy blogs"—including MarthaStewart.com—with ads appearing to users in 20 congressional districts currently held by Democrats. (This dovetails somewhat with congressional Republicans recent push on school choice.) Much more here.

Meanwhile, Obama has proposed a multi-billion expansion of early-childhood education that has virtually no chance of getting through a Congress bent on reining in spending. But the administration is continuing to make the case for it anyway—and it's reaching out to publications read by parents. Case in point: Yesterday the U.S. Department of Education hosted a breakfast for reporters, inviting Parents Magazine, The Root, babycenter, El Tiempo Latino, and Marguerite Kelly, a parenting columnist for the Washington Post. (Oh and, umm...Education Week.)

Which party will be able to win over moms (and parents)? Comments section is open.

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